Sourire & Vivica - (Hi Vivica - welcome back - hope you are not here for long!) - I will be trying Clomid next cycle (+ hcg trigger) if this cycle (just trigger) doesn't work out. According to my RE Clomid would only slightly increase my chances of multiples (I believe 5% increase is what she said), but I don't know if that has to do with my particular history. I already have a history of twins in my family so mentally I am sort of prepared for the possibility (though not the reality, no doubt).

BubbleMa, have fun!

Sorry WildDoula. (Love your username by the way - hoping I will need a wild doula soon!)

Well, I don't really know what the problem is for me. DH and I are going to give it until August (which will be 18 months ttc) and then we'll get all of the tests done. This cycle is the first cycle I haven't temped at all and I'm not going to tell DH when I'm ovulating. I'm giving up the control... at least for this cycle.

Good luck! Hopefully, giving up some control will be the trick for you. Have lots of fun this month !!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MommyMatsumoto

Well, I don't really know what the problem is for me. DH and I are going to give it until August (which will be 18 months ttc) and then we'll get all of the tests done. This cycle is the first cycle I haven't temped at all and I'm not going to tell DH when I'm ovulating. I'm giving up the control... at least for this cycle.

Question: Does the follicular phase affect fertility? Or is only the luteal phase the one that matters? Thanks.

Yes it does affect fertility.

Your hormone levels during the follicular phase affect how many eggs you release (that is how some people have twins), the quality and quantity of your CM (which helps transport the sperm to the egg and helps the sperm survive longer), and when you ovulate. Low levels of hormones in the follicular phase can cause you to have a lack of fertile CM and a later ovulation (or no ovulation at all).

I have also heard that a lot of problems with the luteal phase originate from problems in the follicular phase because estrogen and progesterone levels always try to balance each other out (or something like that)... that is in theory why Clomid (which you take at the beginning of the follicular phase) can help with a luteal phase defect like I have.... anyways I am sure hoping it will work for me :)

Speaking of Clomid, I discussed my whole dosage dilemma with DH. He says that about 50% of the Clomid prescriptions he sees at work are for 50mg, and the rest are mostly 100mg. His professional opinion as a pharmacist is that I should just go ahead and take 50mg for the first 2 months and then if I'm still not pregnant I could try 100mg after. So that's what I'm going to do.

Me (32), married to DH (35)

3 years of TTC #1, M/C @ 6wks in May 2013 Mom to Liliana born May 8 2014 www.babythehardway.com

Thanks for the information. I imagine the long follicular phase is due to my chemical pregnancy last month. I won't keep my fingers crossed that this month will bring a BFP. Hopefully, my hormones will regulate quickly.

Good luck with the Clomid! I've heard nothing but success stories about it from friends with PCOS and/or LP defects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sourire

Yes it does affect fertility.

Your hormone levels during the follicular phase affect how many eggs you release (that is how some people have twins), the quality and quantity of your CM (which helps transport the sperm to the egg and helps the sperm survive longer), and when you ovulate. Low levels of hormones in the follicular phase can cause you to have a lack of fertile CM and a later ovulation (or no ovulation at all).

I have also heard that a lot of problems with the luteal phase originate from problems in the follicular phase because estrogen and progesterone levels always try to balance each other out (or something like that)... that is in theory why Clomid (which you take at the beginning of the follicular phase) can help with a luteal phase defect like I have.... anyways I am sure hoping it will work for me :)

Speaking of Clomid, I discussed my whole dosage dilemma with DH. He says that about 50% of the Clomid prescriptions he sees at work are for 50mg, and the rest are mostly 100mg. His professional opinion as a pharmacist is that I should just go ahead and take 50mg for the first 2 months and then if I'm still not pregnant I could try 100mg after. So that's what I'm going to do.

We are literally about to walk out the door for a weekend away (for the long weekend here in Aus). Unfortunately I haven't had a positive OPK so I'm probably going to O while we're travelling, staying in the same tiny place with all the in-laws *sigh*. I'll see you all in a few days! Good luck this weekend! x

We are literally about to walk out the door for a weekend away (for the long weekend here in Aus). Unfortunately I haven't had a positive OPK so I'm probably going to O while we're travelling, staying in the same tiny place with all the in-laws *sigh*. I'll see you all in a few days! Good luck this weekend! x

That sucks. Maybe you can be be super duper quiet?

AFM, I just got the schedule for work next week and they didn't put me on it until Friday. It's frustrating and annoying, but I'm a huge believer that everything happens for a reason, so maybe we'll make a baby this week! :D

Sarah, partner to J and mom to DD1 April 30th, 2002 and DD2 May 5th, 2012.

We are literally about to walk out the door for a weekend away (for the long weekend here in Aus). Unfortunately I haven't had a positive OPK so I'm probably going to O while we're travelling, staying in the same tiny place with all the in-laws *sigh*. I'll see you all in a few days! Good luck this weekend! x

We actually managed to do it last week under the covers with our bedroom door open and my MIL asleep on the couch just around the corner (you can't see directly into the master bedroom unless you are standing in the back hallway...which no one would be in unless going to the master or the nursery). Tricky, yes...but I think DH actually got a kick out of the danger!!

Now to see if it worked and stuck (since that was one of only two chances we had during my last fertile cycle...DH was just WAY too busy with work)!!

Well, move me to Waiting to O (again). Started spotting today, so AF will be here Monday, possibly tomorrow. I have the RE appointment Wednesday, so it would be great if she showed on Monday. MAYBE they would do the CD3 testing right off the bat. I doubt it though. LOL

Okay, now I'm just confused!! I just set up an account on Fertility Friend and it's got my supposed fertile and ovulation days completely different than the app I was using on my phone!! I think I just need to hang out and see if something worked this cycle and if not I'm gonna start checking temps and cm as soon as AF is over!!

Just checking in. I cannot wait to O! I'm all ready I bought a 20 pack of OPK strips and just got some preseed today. Thank goodness I didn't splurge and buy the digital smiley face OPK (that I really wanted) because the preseed was more expensive than I thought it would be (I'm sure I could have saved if I got it online but I couldn't wait)! TTC can be costly! I have heard so many awesome things about preseed I couldn't help myself. I do get EWCM but it's not like tons or like I am swimming in it, so I figure it can only help Plus I like the fact that I feel a little sense of control by using it (even though we haven't used it yet lol).

I am pretty sure my long follicular phase (after reading the posts above) was to blame for last cycle. Everything seems to be going normal so far! Trying not to get too excited or stressed because I know my body will hold off O'ing even longer if I do ugh. Also looking for a new accupuncturist...mine moved in Nov and I never replaced her Have a good rest of your weekend everyone!!!